Editing General Mills (section)

=== Washburn-Crosby Company ===
The company can trace its history to the '''Minneapolis Milling Company''', incorporated in 1856.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.millcitymuseum.org/timeline|title=Mill City Timeline|website=millcitymuseum.org|access-date=September 13, 2014|archive-date=April 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401080101/http://www.millcitymuseum.org/timeline|url-status=dead}}</ref> The company was founded by Illinois congressman [[Robert Smith (Illinois politician)|Robert Smith]], who leased power rights to flour mills operating along the west side of Saint Anthony Falls on the [[Mississippi River]] in [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]]. [[Cadwallader C. Washburn]] acquired the company shortly after its founding and hired his brother [[William D. Washburn]] to assist in the company's development. In 1866 the Washburns got into the business themselves, building the Washburn "B" Mill at the falls. At the time, the building was considered to be so large and output so vast that it could not possibly sustain itself. However, the company succeeded, and in 1874 he built the even bigger [[Washburn "A" Mill]].

In 1877, the mill entered a partnership with [[John Crosby (General Mills)|John Crosby]] to form the '''Washburn-Crosby Company''', producing [[Winter Wheat|winter wheat]] flour. That same year Washburn sent [[William Hood Dunwoody]] to England to open the market for spring wheat.<ref>[https://www.angelfire.com/journal/pondlilymill/edgar.html "The Story of a Grain of Wheat"]. [[Angelfire]].</ref> Dunwoody was successful and became a silent partner.

In 1878, the "A" mill was destroyed in a flour [[dust explosion]] along with five nearby buildings, an event known as the [[Great Mill Disaster]]. The ensuing fire led to the death of 18 workers.<ref>{{cite web | title = Washburn 'A' Mill Explosion | work = History Topics | publisher = [[Minnesota Historical Society]] | url = http://www.mnhs.org/library/tips/history_topics/73washburn.html | access-date = May 9, 2012 | archive-date = July 31, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130731014659/http://www.mnhs.org/library/tips/history_topics/73washburn.html | url-status = dead }}</ref> Construction of a new mill began immediately. Not only was the new mill safer but it also was able to produce a higher quality flour after the old grinding stones were replaced with automatic steel rollers, the first ever used.

In 1880, Washburn-Crosby flour brands won gold, silver and bronze medals at the Millers' International Exhibition in [[Cincinnati]], causing them to launch the Gold Medal flour brand.<ref>{{cite book | last = Gray | first = James | title = Business without Boundary: The Story of General Mills | publisher = University of Minnesota Press | year = 1954 | page = 36 | lccn = 54-10286}}</ref>

In 1924, the company acquired a failing [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul|Twin Cities]] radio station, [[WLAG]], renaming it [[WCCO (AM)|WCCO]] (from Washburn-Crosby Company).